Journal Description
Digital
Digital
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on digital technologies and digital application, particularly with how such technologies affect our health, education and economy, published quarterly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, EBSCO, and other databases.
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 23.6 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 4.1 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2024).
- Journal Rank: CiteScore - Q2 (Computer Science (miscellaneous))
- Recognition of Reviewers: APC discount vouchers, optional signed peer review, and reviewer names published annually in the journal.
Latest Articles
Testing the Level of Creativity and Spatial Imagination in the SketchUp Program Using a Modified Urban Test of Creative Thinking
Digital 2024, 4(3), 804-820; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4030040 (registering DOI) - 23 Sep 2024
Abstract
►
Show Figures
The authors focus on innovating the research tool Urban’s Test of Creativity to enhance the evaluation and efficiency of the educational process. This paper presents the possibility of measuring creativity and spatial imagination in the SketchUp virtual environment. Teachers and HR professionals in
[...] Read more.
The authors focus on innovating the research tool Urban’s Test of Creativity to enhance the evaluation and efficiency of the educational process. This paper presents the possibility of measuring creativity and spatial imagination in the SketchUp virtual environment. Teachers and HR professionals in modern companies require an overview of the key competencies of students and graduates, essential for the transformation towards Industry 5.0. The authors utilize the proven concept of Urban’s Test, modify it into a digital format, and integrate new elements that assess spatial visualization and functional creativity. Teachers and HR professionals gain an efficient tool that is easy to evaluate, time-efficient, and requires minimal infrastructure. The modified research tool is suitable for conducting action research and allows for comparing respondents’ results using quantitative methods. This pilot study aimed to validate the modified test and its properties. A total of one hundred respondents, divided into five groups based on age and education (approximately 10 to 25 years old), were tested. The results confirmed that the concept of Urban’s Test of Creativity can be successfully adapted for commonly available 3D modeling environments. Moreover, it was confirmed that within the target group, the level of spatial visualization improves gradually with age.
Full article
Open AccessSystematic Review
Blockchain Technology Adoption for Disrupting FinTech Functionalities: A Systematic Literature Review for Corporate Management, Supply Chain, Banking Industry, and Stock Markets
by
Vasiliki Basdekidou and Harry Papapanagos
Digital 2024, 4(3), 762-803; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4030039 - 10 Sep 2024
Abstract
Blockchain technology (BCT) is regarded as one of the most important and disruptive technologies in Industry 4.0. However, no comprehensive study addresses the contributions of BCT adoption (BCA) on some special business functionalities projected as financial variables like BCA integrity, transparency, etc. Therefore,
[...] Read more.
Blockchain technology (BCT) is regarded as one of the most important and disruptive technologies in Industry 4.0. However, no comprehensive study addresses the contributions of BCT adoption (BCA) on some special business functionalities projected as financial variables like BCA integrity, transparency, etc. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to close this theoretical gap and determine how BCA has contributed to the four business sectors that were selected since FinTech had the greatest potential in these domains. The PRISMA approach, a systematic literature review model, was used in this work to make sure that the greatest number of studies on the topic were accessed. The PRISMA model’s output helped identify relevant publications, and an analysis of these studies served as the foundation for this paper’s findings. The findings reveal that BCA for companies with a disrupting financial technology (FinTech) attitude can help in securing corporate transaction transparency; offer knowledge, same-data, and information sharing; enhance fidelity, integrity, and trust; improve organizational procedures; and prevent fraud with cyber-hacking protection and fraudulence suspension. Moreover, blockchain’s smart contract utilization feature offers ESG and sustainability functionality. This paper’s novelty is the projection to four business sectors of the three-layer research sequence: (i) financial variables operated as BCA functionalities, (ii) issues, risks, limitations, and opportunities associated with the financial variables, and (iii) implications, theoretical contributions, questions, potentiality, and outlook of BCA/FinTech issues. And the ability of managers or practitioners to reference this sequence and make decisions on BCA matters is considered a key contribution. The proposed methodology provides business practitioners with valuable insights to reevaluate their economic challenges and explore the potential of blockchain technology to address them. This study combined a systematic literature review (SLR) with qualitative analysis as part of a hybrid research approach. Quantitative analysis was carried out on all 835 selected papers in the first step, and qualitative analysis was carried out on the top-cited papers that were screened. The current work highlights the key challenges and opportunities in established blockchain implementations and discusses the outlook potentiality of blockchain technology adoption. This study will be useful to managers, practitioners, researchers, and scholars.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Transformation and Digital Capability)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessReview
Methodological Quality of User-Centered Usability Evaluation of Digital Applications to Promote Citizens’ Engagement and Participation in Public Governance: A Systematic Literature Review
by
Rute Bastardo, João Pavão and Nelson Pacheco Rocha
Digital 2024, 4(3), 740-761; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4030038 - 5 Sep 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
This systematic literature review aimed to assess the methodological quality of user-centered usability evaluation of digital applications to promote citizens’ engagement and participation in public governance by (i) systematizing their purposes; (ii) analyzing the evaluation procedures, methods, and instruments that were used; (iii)
[...] Read more.
This systematic literature review aimed to assess the methodological quality of user-centered usability evaluation of digital applications to promote citizens’ engagement and participation in public governance by (i) systematizing their purposes; (ii) analyzing the evaluation procedures, methods, and instruments that were used; (iii) determining their conformance with recommended usability evaluation good practices; and (iv) identifying the implications of the reported results for future developments. An electronic search was conducted on Web of Science, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore databases, and after a screening procedure considering predefined eligibility criteria, 34 studies were reviewed. These studies performed user-centered usability evaluation of digital applications related to (i) participatory reporting of urban issues, (ii) environmental sustainability, (iii) civic participation, (iv) urban planning, (v) promotion of democratic values, (vi) electronic voting, and (vii) chatbots. In terms of the methodological quality of the included studies, the results suggest that there is a high heterogeneity of the user-centered usability evaluation. Therefore, there is a need for recommendations to support user-centered usability evaluations of digital applications to promote citizens’ engagement and participation in public governance to improve the planning and conduction of future research.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
The Dresden Model of Adaptability: A Holistic Approach to Human-Centeredness, Resilience, Sustainability, and the Impact on the Sustainable Development Goals in the Era of Industry 5.0
by
Nicole Jäpel, Pia Bielitz and Dirk Reichelt
Digital 2024, 4(3), 726-739; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4030037 - 28 Aug 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
Pursuing human-centered, sustainable, and resilient production is shaping a future-oriented approach to manufacturing processes in the context of Industry 5.0. How can such production be implemented? For this purpose, this article analyses the effects of the developed Dresden Model of Adaptability (acronym: DreMoWabe)
[...] Read more.
Pursuing human-centered, sustainable, and resilient production is shaping a future-oriented approach to manufacturing processes in the context of Industry 5.0. How can such production be implemented? For this purpose, this article analyses the effects of the developed Dresden Model of Adaptability (acronym: DreMoWabe) on the integration of holistic sustainability. The focus is on investigating the promotion of economic, environmental, and social sustainability goals in terms of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and analyzing strategies to increase resilience to changing environmental conditions. A human-centered perspective is considered. The model proves to be a holistic approach that drives sustainable development of the production system through the comprehensive integration of human, technology, and organizational structures.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Digital Skills and Gender Equity: Perceptions and Practices of Portuguese Primary Education Teachers
by
Ana Mouraz and Ana Nobre
Digital 2024, 4(3), 710-725; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4030036 - 22 Aug 2024
Abstract
This study aims to characterize the digital skills and pedagogical practices using digital technology among primary teachers (first CEB), as well as to map their understanding and practices of promoting gender equality using digital technology. To this end, an online questionnaire survey was
[...] Read more.
This study aims to characterize the digital skills and pedagogical practices using digital technology among primary teachers (first CEB), as well as to map their understanding and practices of promoting gender equality using digital technology. To this end, an online questionnaire survey was conducted among teachers, which yielded 3871 valid responses, representing 17.5% of the population. The sample structure is identical to that of the population, in terms of sociodemographic and territorial characteristics, as well as to the years of schooling covered. It was found that teachers perceive themselves as digitally competent to carry out the essential part of their teaching tasks. Most have already tried to carry out a diverse set of pedagogical practices and activities using digital technology. However, as the overwhelming majority did not find differences between the uses that boys and girls make of digital technology, they also do not act to promote digital skills differently among girls. Some contextual variables were also found that explain these differences in perception and practices regarding digital in education.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Multimedia-Based Digital Learning)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
A Sentiment Analysis Approach for Exploring Customer Reviews of Online Food Delivery Services: A Greek Case
by
Nikolaos Fragkos, Anastasios Liapakis, Maria Ntaliani, Filotheos Ntalianis and Constantina Costopoulou
Digital 2024, 4(3), 698-709; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4030035 - 17 Aug 2024
Abstract
The unprecedented production and sharing of data, opinions, and comments among people on social media and the Internet in general has highlighted sentiment analysis (SA) as a key machine learning approach in scientific and market research. Sentiment analysis can extract sentiments and opinions
[...] Read more.
The unprecedented production and sharing of data, opinions, and comments among people on social media and the Internet in general has highlighted sentiment analysis (SA) as a key machine learning approach in scientific and market research. Sentiment analysis can extract sentiments and opinions from user-generated text, providing useful evidence for new product decision-making and effective customer relationship management. However, there are concerns about existing standard sentiment analysis tools regarding the generation of inaccurate sentiment classification results. The objective of this paper is to determine the efficiency of off-the-shelf sentiment analysis APIs in recognizing low-resource languages, such as Greek. Specifically, we examined whether sentiment analysis performed on 300 online ordering customer reviews using the Meaning Cloud web-based tool produced meaningful results with high accuracy. According to the results of this study, we found low agreement between the web-based and the actual raters in the food delivery services related data. However, the low accuracy of the results highlights the need for specialized sentiment analysis tools capable of recognizing only one low-resource language. Finally, the results highlight the necessity of developing specialized lexicons tailored not only to a specific language but also to a particular field, such as a specific type of restaurant or shop.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
StreetLines: A Smart and Scalable Tourism Platform Based on Efficient Knowledge-Mining
by
Georgios Alexandridis, Georgios Siolas, Tasos Papagiannis, George Ioannou, Konstantinos Michalakis, George Caridakis, Vasileios Karyotis and Symeon Papavassiliou
Digital 2024, 4(3), 676-697; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4030034 - 11 Aug 2024
Abstract
Identifying and understanding visitor needs and expectations is of the utmost importance for a number of stakeholders and policymakers involved in the touristic domain. Apart from traditional forms of feedback, an abundance of related information exists online, scattered across various data sources like
[...] Read more.
Identifying and understanding visitor needs and expectations is of the utmost importance for a number of stakeholders and policymakers involved in the touristic domain. Apart from traditional forms of feedback, an abundance of related information exists online, scattered across various data sources like online social media, tourism-related platforms, traveling blogs, forums, etc. Retrieving and analyzing the aforementioned content is not a straightforward task and in order to address this challenge, we have developed the StreetLines platform, a novel information system that is able to collect, analyze and produce insights from the available tourism-related data. Its highly modular architecture allows for the continuous monitoring of varying pools of heterogeneous data sources whose contents are subsequently stored, after preprocessing, in a data repository. Following that, the aforementioned data feed a number of independent and parallel processing modules that extract useful information for all individuals involved in the tourism domain, like place recommendation for visitors and sentiment analysis and keyword extraction reports for professionals in the tourism industry. The presented platform is an outcome of the StreetLines project and apart from the contributions of its individual components, its novelty lies in the holistic approach to knowledge extraction and tourism data mining.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Digital Systems for Tourism)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Twitter and the Affordance: A Case Study of Participatory Roles in the #Marchforourlives Network
by
Miyoung Chong
Digital 2024, 4(3), 660-675; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4030033 - 20 Jul 2024
Abstract
The study empirically analyzed activism participants’ roles drawn from the lens of social media affordance and identified the activism opinion leaders based on the framework of network connectivity, message diffusion, and semantic relevancy through the case of the #Marchforourlives Twitter network, which has
[...] Read more.
The study empirically analyzed activism participants’ roles drawn from the lens of social media affordance and identified the activism opinion leaders based on the framework of network connectivity, message diffusion, and semantic relevancy through the case of the #Marchforourlives Twitter network, which has been rebranded as X. The study defines the #Marchforourlives Twitter network as a co-created activism network in collaboration with different degrees of contributors, such as the core advocates, the advocates, the supporters, and the amplifiers. The results showed that a very small number of tweets created by the core advocates played significant roles due to their extensive adoption by other participants, while many other original tweets were never mentioned or retweeted in the network. This study disclosed the extensive proportion of amplifiers as 95.13% among the examined participants. The study findings suggest that creating core agenda tweets with high amplifiability might be critical for successful hashtag activism to attract like-minded masses as networked protesters.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Data-Driven Group Decision-Making)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
The Vision of University Students from the Educational Field in the Integration of ChatGPT
by
Sara Cebrián Cifuentes, Empar Guerrero Valverde and Sabina Checa Caballero
Digital 2024, 4(3), 648-659; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4030032 - 15 Jul 2024
Cited by 1
Abstract
ChatGPT has significantly increased in popularity in recent months because of its capacity to generate novel content and provide genuine responses to questions. Nevertheless, like all technologies, it is crucial to assess its limitations and features prior to implementing it into an educational
[...] Read more.
ChatGPT has significantly increased in popularity in recent months because of its capacity to generate novel content and provide genuine responses to questions. Nevertheless, like all technologies, it is crucial to assess its limitations and features prior to implementing it into an educational setting. A major obstacle associated with ChatGPT is its tendency to produce consistent yet occasionally unreliable and inaccurate responses. Our study provides students with training in this area, and its objective was to analyse the opinion of those same university students studying education-related degrees regarding the efficacy of the usefulness of ChatGPT for their learning. We used a mixed methodology and two instruments for data collection: questionnaires and discussion groups. The sample comprised 150 university students pursuing degrees in teaching and social education. The results show that the majority of students are familiar with the technology but have not had any formal training in a university. They use this tool to complete academic assignments outside the classroom, and they emphasise the need for training in it. Furthermore, following the training, the students highlight an increase in motivation and a positive impact on the development of generic skills, such as information analysis, synthesis and management, problem solving, and learning how to learn. Ultimately, this study provides an opportunity to consider the implementation of educational training of this tool at the university level in order to ensure its appropriate use.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Multimedia-Based Digital Learning)
Open AccessArticle
Computer-Animated Videos in Education: A Comprehensive Review and Teacher Experiences from Animation Creation
by
Alexandros Kleftodimos
Digital 2024, 4(3), 613-647; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4030031 - 12 Jul 2024
Abstract
Animated videos have been used in education for many years, and their efficacy in enhancing student motivation, engagement, and performance has been evaluated and reported in many studies. The aim of this study is twofold. First, after examining seventy-seven research articles, this study
[...] Read more.
Animated videos have been used in education for many years, and their efficacy in enhancing student motivation, engagement, and performance has been evaluated and reported in many studies. The aim of this study is twofold. First, after examining seventy-seven research articles, this study will attempt to provide an updated comprehensive literature review on the topic for the last decade. The articles were obtained from Google Scholar and Scopus following a certain methodology (search keywords, inclusion and exclusion criteria). The articles were examined for aspects such as the educational fields in which animated videos have been utilized over the last ten years, the researchers’ countries, the types of animated videos, the software tools used to create the educational animations, the research methods employed, and the aims and findings of the studies. The second part of this paper will present animated videos produced by teachers together with their experiences from the development process and classroom use. This study concentrates on the software tools the educators chose to use and their perceptions about developing their own animations. Findings indicate that when animated videos are produced by teachers, their creativity is boosted, and their communication skills are enhanced.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Multimedia-Based Digital Learning)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Investigating Efficiency and Innovation: An Exploratory and Predictive Analysis of Smart Airport Systems
by
Angellie Williady, Narariya Dita Handani and Hak-Seon Kim
Digital 2024, 4(3), 599-612; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4030030 - 10 Jul 2024
Abstract
By exploring the top three airports in Asia, this study explores the area of smart airport systems. With the goal of analyzing the significant elements of airport services that captivate travelers’ attention through online reviews and establishing a correlation between sentiment in reviews
[...] Read more.
By exploring the top three airports in Asia, this study explores the area of smart airport systems. With the goal of analyzing the significant elements of airport services that captivate travelers’ attention through online reviews and establishing a correlation between sentiment in reviews and numerical ratings given by travelers, the study analyzes what captivates travelers’ attention. Data mining, frequency analysis, sentiment analysis, and linear regression are employed in this study in order to analyze a dataset of 10,202 online reviews. The results indicate that the most common attributes of airport services significantly impact customer satisfaction, as well as how the sentiment expressed in online reviews correlates with the numerical ratings. A significant contribution of this study lies in its contribution to understanding the dynamics of customer satisfaction in the field of airport services as well as in identifying areas for improvement that could enhance the overall traveler experience in the burgeoning field of smart airports. In the context of smart airport systems, the analysis of exploratory and predictive data provides valuable insights into the optimization of airport operations, thus enriching the body of knowledge in this rapidly evolving area and providing the foundation for future research.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Digital Systems for Tourism)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
The Use of DEA for ESG Activities and DEI Initiatives Considered as “Pillar of Sustainability” for Economic Growth Assessment in Western Balkans
by
Vasiliki Basdekidou and Harry Papapanagos
Digital 2024, 4(3), 572-598; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4030029 - 7 Jul 2024
Cited by 1
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
Data envelopment analysis (DEA), which is frequently used in efficiency analysis, has also been applied to the measurement of entrepreneurial efficiency for the attainment of desired values of macroeconomic indicators (such as the objectives of sustainable economic growth). For this application, DEA takes
[...] Read more.
Data envelopment analysis (DEA), which is frequently used in efficiency analysis, has also been applied to the measurement of entrepreneurial efficiency for the attainment of desired values of macroeconomic indicators (such as the objectives of sustainable economic growth). For this application, DEA takes into account the economic, environmental, and social impact of entrepreneurship as the three dimensions of sustainability. This paper aimed to investigate the potential for a scalable (in diversity, equity, and inclusion dimensions) DEA application in sustainable entrepreneurship performance (SEP) assessment through three channels (assessing SEP without ESG activities; ESG→SEP; ESG (DEI)→SEP) and present an empirical study related to economic growth assessment and its environmental, social, and governance (ESG), and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) determinants across selected Western Balkans (WB) and European Union (EU) companies, based on the use of the proposed scalable DEA. It highlights how crucial a scalable nonparametric approach to macroeconomic efficiency analysis is and provides a more comprehensive perspective to the researchers on this issue. This study used a non-oriented DEA model with variable return-to-scale in a group of 60 WB and 60 EU companies, all of which adopted ICT/Blockchain (BC) technologies (the 11 ESG metrics). The annual corporate data was collected for seven years from 2017 until 2023. We projected the selected data to three country particularities (mass acceptance, adoption, and implementation of ICT/BC; mass labor force return from overseas; and ethnic, cultural, and religious particularities) and performed statistical analysis. Our findings estimate the influence of these three particularities on economic growth potential. In all countries’ cases, we found a statistically sound (significant, positive) correlation between ESG and SEP’s economic growth quality performance. Particularly, when corporate social and DEI initiatives mediate (channel III), SEP’s economic growth gains the best performance (+18%) in countries with ethnic, cultural, and religious particularities (BiH, NM), a +17% in countries enjoying massive labor force return from overseas (AL) and performs well in quality (particularly in the innovation and integrity) SEP performance success dimensions (all WB and EU countries). The proposed scalable DEA shows clearly, by performing an empirical analysis, which modern business (adopting ICT/BC) is the most effective in achieving sustainability projected to country particularities, helping corporate management to improve economic growth efficiency.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessReview
Challenges of Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Software Project Planning: A Systematic Literature Review
by
Abdulghafour Mohammad and Brian Chirchir
Digital 2024, 4(3), 555-571; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4030028 - 29 Jun 2024
Cited by 1
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) has helped enhance the management of software development projects through automation, improving efficiency and enabling project professionals to focus on strategic aspects. Despite its advantages, applying AI in software development project management still faces several challenges. Thus, this study investigates
[...] Read more.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has helped enhance the management of software development projects through automation, improving efficiency and enabling project professionals to focus on strategic aspects. Despite its advantages, applying AI in software development project management still faces several challenges. Thus, this study investigates key obstacles to applying artificial intelligence in project management, specifically in the project planning phase. This research systematically reviews the existing literature. The review comprises scientific articles published from 2019 to 2024 and, from the inspected records, 17 papers were analyzed in full-text form. In this review, 10 key barriers were reported and categorized based on the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework. This review showed that eleven articles reported technological challenges, twelve articles identified organizational challenges, and six articles reported environmental challenges. In addition, this review found that there was relatively little interest in the literature on environmental challenges, compared to organizational and technological barriers.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hybrid Artificial Intelligence for Systems and Applications)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
MRI-Based Brain Tumor Classification Using a Dilated Parallel Deep Convolutional Neural Network
by
Takowa Rahman, Md Saiful Islam and Jia Uddin
Digital 2024, 4(3), 529-554; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4030027 - 28 Jun 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
Brain tumors are frequently classified with high accuracy using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to better comprehend the spatial connections among pixels in complex pictures. Due to their tiny receptive fields, the majority of deep convolutional neural network (DCNN)-based techniques overfit and are unable
[...] Read more.
Brain tumors are frequently classified with high accuracy using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to better comprehend the spatial connections among pixels in complex pictures. Due to their tiny receptive fields, the majority of deep convolutional neural network (DCNN)-based techniques overfit and are unable to extract global context information from more significant regions. While dilated convolution retains data resolution at the output layer and increases the receptive field without adding computation, stacking several dilated convolutions has the drawback of producing a grid effect. This research suggests a dilated parallel deep convolutional neural network (PDCNN) architecture that preserves a wide receptive field in order to handle gridding artifacts and extract both coarse and fine features from the images. This article applies multiple preprocessing strategies to the input MRI images used to train the model. By contrasting various dilation rates, the global path uses a low dilation rate (2,1,1), while the local path uses a high dilation rate (4,2,1) for decremental even numbers to tackle gridding artifacts and to extract both coarse and fine features from the two parallel paths. Using three different types of MRI datasets, the suggested dilated PDCNN with the average ensemble method performs best. The accuracy achieved for the multiclass Kaggle dataset-III, Figshare dataset-II, and binary tumor identification dataset-I is 98.35%, 98.13%, and 98.67%, respectively. In comparison to state-of-the-art techniques, the suggested structure improves results by extracting both fine and coarse features, making it efficient.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Algorithm Literacy as a Subset of Media and Information Literacy: Competences and Design Considerations
by
Divina Frau-Meigs
Digital 2024, 4(2), 512-528; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4020026 - 6 Jun 2024
Abstract
Algorithms, indispensable to understand Artificial Intelligence (AI), are omnipresent in social media, but users’ understanding of these computational processes and the way they impact their consumption of information is often limited. There is a need for Media and Information Literacy (MIL) research investigating
[...] Read more.
Algorithms, indispensable to understand Artificial Intelligence (AI), are omnipresent in social media, but users’ understanding of these computational processes and the way they impact their consumption of information is often limited. There is a need for Media and Information Literacy (MIL) research investigating (a) how MIL can support algorithm literacy (AL) as a subset of competences and with what working definition, (b) what competences users need in order to evaluate algorithms critically and interact with them effectively, and (c) how to design learner-centred interventions that foster increased user understanding of algorithms and better response to disinformation spread by such processes. Based on Crossover project research, this paper looks at four scenarios used by journalists, developers and MIL experts that mirror users’ daily interactions with social media. The results suggest several steps towards integrating AL within MIL goals, while providing a concrete definition of algorithm literacy that is experience-based. The competences and design considerations are organised in a conceptual framework thematically derived from the experimentation. This contribution can support AI developers and MIL educators in their co-design of algorithm-literacy interventions and guide future research on AL as part of a set of nested AI literacies within MIL.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital in 2024)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Assistive Technology for Higher Education Students with Disabilities: A Qualitative Research
by
Konstantinos Papadopoulos, Eleni Koustriava, Lisander Isaraj, Elena Chronopoulou, Flavio Manganello and Rafael Molina-Carmona
Digital 2024, 4(2), 501-511; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4020025 - 23 May 2024
Abstract
The objective of this qualitative investigation is to identify the assistive technology recognized by students with disabilities and to determine the assistive technology (software apps and devices) they require both at university and at home. A total of forty-two students, comprising 20 males
[...] Read more.
The objective of this qualitative investigation is to identify the assistive technology recognized by students with disabilities and to determine the assistive technology (software apps and devices) they require both at university and at home. A total of forty-two students, comprising 20 males and 22 females, were recruited from four different countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, and Spain) for participation in this study. The sample encompassed 10 students with visual impairments, 11 with hearing impairments, 11 with mobility impairments, and 10 with specific learning disabilities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the students either online or in person. Content analysis was employed to scrutinize the data obtained from these interviews. The outcomes of this analysis shed light on the assistive technology acknowledged, utilized, or desired by students with disabilities in both academic and domestic settings. The findings from this study carry practical implications for fostering inclusive and accessible education within higher education institutions, benefiting accessibility units/offices staff as well as teaching personnel.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital in 2024)
Open AccessArticle
A Method for Solving Problems in Acquiring Communication Logs on End Hosts
by
Youji Fukuta, Yoshiaki Shiraishi, Masanori Hirotomo and Masami Mohri
Digital 2024, 4(2), 483-500; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4020024 - 16 May 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
In the process of collecting evidence of activities and events in network devices, there are problems with content and storage, and we aim to solve the problems faced by network devices in network forensics. In this paper, we propose a simple method for
[...] Read more.
In the process of collecting evidence of activities and events in network devices, there are problems with content and storage, and we aim to solve the problems faced by network devices in network forensics. In this paper, we propose a simple method for solving the problems with content and storage in acquiring communication logs on end hosts, implement a sniffing tool that captures raw packets with communication event control, compare it with existing tools, and conduct experiments and considerations. Through these experiments and considerations, we confirmed that the proposed communication log acquisition method can be implemented on the end host, and that the problem can be solved by using a tool that implements the proposed method. Also, we confirmed that it can be applied to real-world communication log collection scenarios, and that it can coexist with existing systems and tools that collect communication logs.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Digital K–12 STEM Education through Human–Robot Interaction: Investigation on Prerequisites
by
S. M. Mizanoor Rahman
Digital 2024, 4(2), 461-482; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4020023 - 13 May 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
This article aims to explore, investigate, and determine the prerequisites that learners (students) should possess for participating in and being adequately benefitted from digital (robotics-enabled) K–12 STEM education offered through intuitive human–robot interaction. We selected 23 middle school mathematics and science teachers who
[...] Read more.
This article aims to explore, investigate, and determine the prerequisites that learners (students) should possess for participating in and being adequately benefitted from digital (robotics-enabled) K–12 STEM education offered through intuitive human–robot interaction. We selected 23 middle school mathematics and science teachers who received training on how to design, develop, and implement robotics-enabled lessons. The teachers then implemented robotics-enabled lessons in actual classroom settings, and separately responded to a survey based on their training, classroom experiences and observations, and self-brainstorming. We derived a set of prerequisite knowledge, skills, and abilities, including their relative importance for the students by analyzing the survey responses. The results showed that the students should not only possess prerequisite knowledge in the subject matter, but also possess behavioral, social, scientific, cognitive, and intellectual skills and abilities to participate in and receive benefits from robotics-enabled human–robot interactive digital STEM education. Out of the many prerequisites, the computational thinking ability of students was identified as one of the most required prerequisites to participate in robotics-enabled digital STEM education. To validate the derived prerequisites, teachers separately assessed the fulfillment of prerequisites by 38 participating students, and the results showed user acceptance, effectiveness, and suitability of the derived prerequisites set. We also identified a set of limitations of the studies and proposed action plans to enable students to meet the prerequisites. The results presented herein can help determine required instructional efforts and scaffolds before implementing robotics-enabled digital STEM lessons, and thus foster incorporating technology-enhanced (robotics-enabled) digital STEM education into K–12 curricula.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Advanced Swine Management: Infrared Imaging for Precise Localization of Reproductive Organs in Livestock Monitoring
by
Iyad Almadani, Brandon Ramos, Mohammed Abuhussein and Aaron L. Robinson
Digital 2024, 4(2), 446-460; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4020022 - 2 May 2024
Abstract
Traditional methods for predicting sow reproductive cycles are not only costly but also demand a larger workforce, exposing workers to respiratory toxins, repetitive stress injuries, and chronic pain. This occupational hazard can even lead to mental health issues due to repeated exposure to
[...] Read more.
Traditional methods for predicting sow reproductive cycles are not only costly but also demand a larger workforce, exposing workers to respiratory toxins, repetitive stress injuries, and chronic pain. This occupational hazard can even lead to mental health issues due to repeated exposure to violence. Managing health and welfare issues becomes pivotal in group-housed animal settings, where individual care is challenging on large farms with limited staff. The necessity for computer vision systems to analyze sow behavior and detect deviations indicative of health problems is apparent. Beyond observing changes in behavior and physical traits, computer vision can accurately detect estrus based on vulva characteristics and analyze thermal imagery for temperature changes, which are crucial indicators of estrus. By automating estrus detection, farms can significantly enhance breeding efficiency, ensuring optimal timing for insemination. These systems work continuously, promptly alerting staff to anomalies for early intervention. In this research, we propose part of the solution by utilizing an image segmentation model to localize the vulva. We created our technique to identify vulvae on pig farms using infrared imagery. To accomplish this, we initially isolate the vulva region by enclosing it within a red rectangle and then generate vulva masks by applying a threshold to the red area. The system is trained using U-Net semantic segmentation, where the input for the system consists of grayscale images and their corresponding masks. We utilize U-Net semantic segmentation to find the vulva in the input image, making it lightweight, simple, and robust enough to be tested on many images. To evaluate the performance of our model, we employ the intersection over union (IOU) metric, which is a suitable indicator for determining the model’s robustness. For the segmentation model, a prediction is generally considered ‘good’ when the intersection over union score surpasses 0.5. Our model achieved this criterion with a score of 0.58, surpassing the scores of alternative methods such as the SVM with Gabor (0.515) and YOLOv3 (0.52).
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Artificial Intelligence Models, Tools and Applications)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessReview
A Benchmarking Study of Irrigation Advisory Platforms
by
Soukaina Boujdi, Abdelkhalek Ezzahri, Mourad Bouziani, Reda Yaagoubi and Lahcen Kenny
Digital 2024, 4(2), 425-445; https://doi.org/10.3390/digital4020021 - 26 Apr 2024
Cited by 1
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
In the contemporary agricultural landscape, agriculture faces four pressing demands: competitiveness, ensuring food security for a growing population, environmental sustainability, and providing farmers with acceptable living conditions. To meet this global challenge, digital technologies represent a major avenue for innovation and development towards
[...] Read more.
In the contemporary agricultural landscape, agriculture faces four pressing demands: competitiveness, ensuring food security for a growing population, environmental sustainability, and providing farmers with acceptable living conditions. To meet this global challenge, digital technologies represent a major avenue for innovation and development towards modernized digital agriculture. In this context, irrigation advisory platforms have proven to be transformational tools for both farmers and policymakers, offering insights into the appropriate crop water requirements. This article presents a benchmarking analysis of around 20 professional irrigation advisory platforms. The methodology involves selecting 20 platforms based on accessibility ensuring geographical characteristic diversity. Our findings highlight key criteria shaping the ecosystem of such platforms, including the services offered and their objectives, the types of covered crops, the target users, the form, as well as the source, the availability of the platform, and the variety of data utilized. Lastly, we discuss the main conclusions drawn from our analysis and provide insights into the challenges and future perspectives of irrigation advisory platforms in enhancing agricultural practices and sustainability.
Full article
Figure 1
Highly Accessed Articles
Latest Books
E-Mail Alert
News
Topics
Topic in
BDCC, Digital, Information, Mathematics, Systems
Data-Driven Group Decision-Making
Topic Editors: Shaojian Qu, Ying Ji, M. Faisal NadeemDeadline: 31 December 2024
Topic in
AI, Digital, JMSE, Logistics, Systems
Global Maritime Logistics in the Era of Industry 4.0
Topic Editors: Nam Kyu Park, Hokey MinDeadline: 28 February 2025
Conferences
Special Issues
Special Issue in
Digital
Hybrid Artificial Intelligence for Systems and Applications
Guest Editor: Mobyen Uddin AhmedDeadline: 30 October 2024
Special Issue in
Digital
Advances in Data Management
Guest Editors: Richard Chbeir, Johann Gamper, Sergio Ilarri, Yannis Manolopoulos, Joe TekliDeadline: 31 December 2024
Special Issue in
Digital
Digital Transformation and Digital Capability
Guest Editor: Saeed NosratabadiDeadline: 31 July 2025
Topical Collections
Topical Collection in
Digital
Digital Systems for Tourism
Collection Editors: Costas Vassilakis, George Lepouras, Manolis Wallace